The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-27

Concerning the recent discovery By Prof.
Frank Gushing of a ruined city in south
srn Arizona, a Washington correspondent
writes as follows:
PROF. Gushing, who has charge OF the
expedition, was occupied in the Salt
River valley all OF last summer This val
ley is the most fertile region in Arizona.
II lies ABOUT eighty miles northwest Of
Tucson, ON either side OF the Salt river,
where it joins the ella. Father Keno
made explorations there about 1897. when
he Travelled through Arizona to establish
Jesuit missions; and he speaks OF il rs hay.
Ing a considerable population OF Indians.
who have since become known rs the
Pimas and Maricopas. But he discovered
traces OF n heavy population that had cN-
listed long before and that had become eN-
tinct. Among the evidences were old irri-
eating canals, ruins OF buildings aud stone
utensils, both for war and domestic use.
Prof. Cushing il viii be remembered by
many, was Tor some time identified with
researches connected with the Zun In
dams OF Colorado. lie lived nine Years
with the Huuis, acquired perfect mastery
OF their language has written many inter
esting articles about them. and has had
personal charge of two delegations ol them
that have visited the east. Mr.. Gushing
has Il strong passion for Indian lore,
whether II be Of the present or prehistoric
time; and to his enthusiasm and energy,
coupled with very exhaustive information
on kindred topics, the scientific world /,
very greatly indebted.
Mr.. Cushing has been at work several
months on the ruins Of Salt river valley,
and had the pleasure Of making him
visit in the early part OF August. \ friend
and arrived at his camp early in the
morning, hoping to get in before breakfast
a. We had slept ON the plain the night be-
fore, and no house was within many
miles. The country Immediately sur
rounding WIS rs level rs the bosom of a
lake. but about on the outside wcr, groups
OF mountains rising abruptly from the
plain, and looking like pictures against the
sky in the fresh light Of the morning
Mesquite groves ten or fifteen feet high
We're scattered about like trees Ia an or.
chard bearing n wonderful and constantly
deceptive resemblance 20 a growth that
had been. trained by the hand OF man. II
j. a characteristic OF the mesquite groves Of
Arizona, though ~ wild as sage-buSh
itself. or the grnmma grass upon which the
buffalo fed when they had an undi,turbed
domain from Dakota to Texas
Mr.. Cushing's camp looked more like
military corral than .ihe peaceful abode Of
q scientific expedition. There was a CEN
trsll tent Of large size, which was evidently
the headquarters, and hall q dozen smaller
tents stakcd off at convenient distances.
The people were already asiir, the cook
was busy about breakfast, the groOms were
feeding a group OF fine looking horses and
mules, and q slender looking young man
in corduroy knee bpcchcs, high mocca-
Sins and white flannel shirt, whom | at
once took TO he Mr. Gushing himself, was
pushing about with great activity. II WIS
n very busy looking place, and the sight Of
IL was most welcome one, for W. bad
Travelled many miles over the barren plains
without seeing sign OF human habilation.
Mr.. Gushing Is acting under the authority
al the Smithsonian institution, ana every
Thing about the camp had the appearance
of being prosperous and well cared Tor.
We felt Ike We had got back under the
shcltcring arms OF the government. The
big black mules, the trim, well built
wagons the white, strong tents, the
beast. aud the ever beautiful American
flag floating over all, made mp q parlicu.
larry inspiring spectacle, and gave ugu
patriotic impulse that one could feel only
In such u wild, mtrJldun region ns Ari-
zonn. We were welcomed most heartily
by Mr. Cushing and his assistants lie ear
rics quite little community with him.
Iinl Az bis wife and hur sister two very
charming looking ladies. then an engineer,
an amanucusis, a cook, two or three
grooms and general vurknyn, and quiic q
lot nf people 10 DO the digging iur the rc-
mains ni the lost trb,s. One lone tent
was given mp 20 the remains that hudb
found. 1hcsr wcrc being assorted, labeled
and packed away in boxes Tor shipment 10
ihc Smithsonian institution.
But what had hc found? 4 great deal.
Ills discoveries had been almost startling.
llis camp was at the edge Of what had
evidently boon q city OF considerable sizc,
nnd about 700 yards away was tie ciladc,
or fortr,,, Of this city We walked over
o. the citadel and took general survey
frUm that point. II had evidently been
building 0l considerable size aud strength,
probably several s,OficB high. and had its
foundations laid deep ia the earth. The
material used in iis construction WAS sun.
dried clay, the same ns that used by the
Mpxicans Of The lower aud middle classes.
and before Mr.. Gushing began hts cxpurt-
iions there was nothing 10 mark its where
nbouls except sou OF oblUng hillugk OF
mound. Little OF the walls above the luun-
dalton was found intact, but the ground plan
could he traced in every detail, ~ vel A.
the lines Of the outer wall. The rooms
wcrc oi different sizes, and seemed a. have
bccn constructed with much architect
uril skill. number II the small.
or apartments had undoubtedly been
constructed for burial vaults, for
when they were opened up skclc.
tons wen found ia them, the heads being
invariably 10 the east. In one ~ these
vaults WIS the skeleton Of child. Mr..
Cushing was Of the opinion that the build.
ing had been q sort OF combined citadel
aud sncrpd temple and that the remains
OF those found there were thoso Of priests
aud their families. lie said he bad On.
countcrud many evidences that convinced
him that the people who inhabited the city
had reached the period IN civilization when
the priest Il supreme IN power. A chief ~
King lived In the citadel, but he was under
the control oi the priests. Just why Mr..
Gushing took this view could not clearly
understand. unless II was because 81 Ger.
tain relics hc had found In some Of the
tonibs.
The city extended out ia all directions